Publications
The following list of California Water Science Center publications includes both official USGS publications and journal articles authored by our scientists.
Filter Total Items: 1831
Analysis of tests of subsurface injection, storage, and recovery of freshwater in Lancaster, Antelope Valley, California Analysis of tests of subsurface injection, storage, and recovery of freshwater in Lancaster, Antelope Valley, California
Ground-water levels in Lancaster, California, declined more than 200 feet during the 20th century, resulting in reduced ground-water supplies and more than 6 feet of land subsidence. Facing continuing population growth, water managers are seeking solutions to these problems. Injection of imported, treated fresh water into the aquifer system when it is most available and least expensive...
Authors
Steven P. Phillips, Carl S. Carlson, Loren F. Metzger, James F. Howle, Devin L. Galloway, Michelle Sneed, Marti E. Ikehara, Kenneth W. Hudnut, Nancy E. King
The saturated zone at Yucca Mountain: An overview of the characterization and assessment of the saturated zone as a barrier to potential radionuclide migration The saturated zone at Yucca Mountain: An overview of the characterization and assessment of the saturated zone as a barrier to potential radionuclide migration
The US Department of Energy is pursuing Yucca Mountain, Nevada, for the development of a geologic repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, if the repository is able to meet applicable radiation protection standards established by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Effective performance of such...
Authors
A.-A. Eddebbarh, G.A. Zyvoloski, B.A. Robinson, E. M. Kwicklis, P.W. Reimus, B.W. Arnold, T. Corbet, S.P. Kuzio, C. Faunt
Helium isotope studies in the Mojave Desert, California: Implications for groundwater chronology and regional seismicity Helium isotope studies in the Mojave Desert, California: Implications for groundwater chronology and regional seismicity
We report helium isotope and concentration results for groundwaters from the western Mojave River Basin (MRB), 130 km east of Los Angeles, CA. The basin lies adjacent to the NW-SE trending San Andreas Fault (SAF) system. Samples were collected along two groundwater flowpaths that originate in the San Gabriel Mountains and discharge to the Mojave River located ???32 km to the northeast...
Authors
J.T. Kulongoski, David R. Hilton, J. A. Izbicki
Earthquakes-Rattling the Earth's Plumbing System Earthquakes-Rattling the Earth's Plumbing System
Hydrogeologic responses to earthquakes have been known for decades, and have occurred both close to, and thousands of miles from earthquake epicenters. Water wells have become turbid, dry or begun flowing, discharge of springs and ground water to streams has increased and new springs have formed, and well and surface-water quality have become degraded as a result of earthquakes...
Authors
Michelle Sneed, Devin L. Galloway, William L. Cunningham
Dissolved nickel and benthic flux in South San Francisco Bay: A potential for natural sources to dominate Dissolved nickel and benthic flux in South San Francisco Bay: A potential for natural sources to dominate
No abstract available.
Authors
B.R. Topping, J.S. Kuwabara
Geomorphic and hydrologic assessment of erosion hazards at the Norman municipal landfill, Canadian River floodplain, central Oklahoma Geomorphic and hydrologic assessment of erosion hazards at the Norman municipal landfill, Canadian River floodplain, central Oklahoma
The Norman, Oklahoma, municipal landfill closed in 1985 after 63 years of operation, because it was identified as a point source of hazardous leachate composed of organic and inorganic compounds. The landfill is located on the floodplain of the Canadian River, a sand-bed river characterized by erodible channel boundaries and by large variation in mean monthly discharges. In 1986...
Authors
Jennifer A. Curtis, John W. Whitney
Deformation near the Casa Diablo geothermal well field and related processes Long Valley caldera, Eastern California, 1993-2000 Deformation near the Casa Diablo geothermal well field and related processes Long Valley caldera, Eastern California, 1993-2000
Regional first-order leveling lines, which extend from Lee Vining, CA, to Tom's Place, CA, have been surveyed periodically since 1957 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), and Caltrans. Two of the regional survey lines, or leveling networks, intersect at the Casa Diablo geothermal well field. These leveling networks, referenced to a distant bench mark...
Authors
J. F. Howle, J. O. Langbein, C. D. Farrar, S.K. Wilkinson
Relations between introduced fish and environmental conditions at large geographic scales Relations between introduced fish and environmental conditions at large geographic scales
Data collected from 20 major river basins between 1993 and 1995 as part of the US Geological Survey's (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program were analyzed to assess patterns in introduced and native fish species richness and abundance relative to watershed characteristics and stream physicochemistry. Sites (N = 157) were divided into three regions-northeast, southeast...
Authors
M. R. Meador, L. R. Brown, T. Short
Modeling flow and transport in unsaturated fractured rock: An evaluation of the continuum approach Modeling flow and transport in unsaturated fractured rock: An evaluation of the continuum approach
Because the continuum approach is relatively simple and straightforward to implement, it has been commonly used in modeling flow and transport in unsaturated fractured rock. However, the usefulness of this approach can be questioned in terms of its adequacy for representing fingering flow and transport in unsaturated fractured rock. The continuum approach thus needs to be evaluated...
Authors
H.-H. Liu, C.B. Haukwa, C.F. Ahlers, G.S. Bodvarsson, A. L. Flint, W.B. Guertal
Evaluation of specific ultraviolet absorbance as an indicator of the chemical composition and reactivity of dissolved organic carbon Evaluation of specific ultraviolet absorbance as an indicator of the chemical composition and reactivity of dissolved organic carbon
Specific UV absorbance (SUVA) is defined as the UV absorbance of a water sample at a given wavelength normalized for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration. Our data indicate that SUVA, determined at 254 nm, is strongly correlated with percent aromaticity as determined by 13C NMR for 13 organic matter isolates obtained from a variety of aquatic environments. SUVA, therefore, is...
Authors
J.L. Weishaar, George R. Aiken, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Miranda S. Fram, Roger Fujii, K. Mopper
Water-level changes induced by local and distant earthquakes at Long Valley caldera, California Water-level changes induced by local and distant earthquakes at Long Valley caldera, California
Distant as well as local earthquakes have induced groundwater-level changes persisting for days to weeks at Long Valley caldera, California. Four wells open to formations as deep as 300 m have responded to 16 earthquakes, and responses to two earthquakes in the 3-km-deep Long Valley Exploratory Well (LVEW) show that these changes are not limited to weathered or unconsolidated near...
Authors
Evelyn A. Roeloffs, Michelle Sneed, Devin L. Galloway, Michael L. Sorey, Christopher D. Farrar, James F. Howle, J. Hughes
CALFED: An experiment in science and decisionmaking CALFED: An experiment in science and decisionmaking
The CALFED Bay-Delta Program faces a challenging assignment: to develop a collaborative state-federal management plan for the complex river system and involve multiple stakeholders (primarily municipal, agricultural, and environmental entities) whose interests frequently are in direct conflict. Although many resource-management issues involve multiple stakeholders and conflict is...
Authors
Kimberly A. Taylor, Katharine L. Jacobs, Samuel N. Luoma